Movie Genres and Audiences

The term "genre" can be defined as the loose set ofplanets, impossible situations, fantastic places, intense
criteria for a category of composition. For movies,villains, technology etc. Ex: ET, Star Wars
the genres refer to various categories. Movies can be11. Thriller: These movies include intense excitement,
classified into some major genres. Many of the majorsuspense, uncertainty, and heightened expectation.
genres hold the majority of popular movies, while theThe thriller movies are often mix of various genres.
less popular genres have movies that appeal to aEx: The Net, The Fugitive
smaller segment of people. Some of the major movie12. War: War films are based on war stories. The
genres are:actual fighting sequences, plots, stories of military
1. Action: These are the films which include highoperations, POW tales are included in these films. War
energy, high performance activities. There are stunts,Films are often combined with other genres of films
fights, crisis situation etc. Its major sub-genres areaction, adventure, drama, romance. Ex: We Were
disaster films. Ex: Air Force OneSoldiers
2. Adventure: These films revolve around excitingEach film genre is further classified into sub-genres.
stories, expeditions, and situations in difficult terrains.The films in sub-genre are the sub-classes of that of
These films are much similar to actions films genre.main. The Sub-genres have their own style, manner,
Ex: Apollo 13stories, and plot. Some of the prominent sub-genres
3. Comedy: These films contain humorous plots andare: Biographical films, 'chick' flicks, detective/mystery,
light-hearted moments created to make people laugh.disaster, fantasy, film noir, 'guy' films, melodramas (or
Ex: Honey, I Shrunk the Kids'weepers'), road films, romances, sports, supernatural,
4. Crime and Gangster: These films highlight criminaland thriller/suspense films. There are also some minor
and gangster activities. These portray those peoplesub-genre films, which are categorized under each
who operate outside law and doing unlawful activities.main film genres.
Ex: FargoThere are also other types which can not be included
5. Drama: They portray serious life situations andin any of the genres and form other categories. The
include intense characters and Settings. Ex: Thenon-genre based categories are children's films, family
Godfatherfilms, cult films, documentary films, pornographic films,
6. Epics/Historical: These films are based on historic orand silent films.
imagine events or on mythic, legendary, heroic figure.These classifications of films in different genres are
These films have mostly grand sets and appealingmainly based on international market. The audience
music. These are mostly high budget films. Ex:too plays an important role in movie genres. The
Cleopatrataste of specific segment of audiences makes the
7. Horror: Horror Films are mostly designed to frightenmovies on particular genres popular. Most filmmakers
and arouse our hidden fears about unknown andin India tend to focus on making blockbuster movies
dangerous things. The plots are terrifying, shocking,as they appeal to larger section of society and can
captivating. There are many sub-genres of horror. Ex:earn them huge profits. These blockbuster movies
Screamare amalgamation of songs, drama, action, and
8. Musical: Musical films are those films that includeromance that gives an entertainment pack to
songs and dance routines or these are films thataudience for 3 hrs.
include mix of music, dance, song, and choreography.Very few genre based Indian films are seen as most
Ex: Saturday Night Fever, The Sound of Musicof the Indian films focus on entertaining the masses.
9. Romance: These are stories whose central plot isVery few films aims to cater to selected segment of
between two people who each want to win oversociety. Whereas audiences in international markets
circumstances and keep the love between themare more sophisticated and like to see movies based
alive. Ex: Casablancaon specific genres. The movie genres will also help to
10. Science Fiction: These films are mostly based onchoose which movie to watch and to enjoy the
imaginative plots, which include heroes, aliens, distantmovie.